When I was a kid, we used to camp. In a tent. We were hardcore. And I remember it being tons of fun. Except for the time we had a river running through said tent and my mom and I had to sleep in the car. I wouldn’t necessarily call that “fun;” more like an “adventure,” but I digress. I loved camping mornings because there is a certain feel to it that isn't like waking up at home. Plus, it was the only time I was allowed to have sugary cereal for breakfast. Remember these wonderful gems of childhood?

After breakfast, off us kids would go to play the rest of the day. We would ride bikes, swim, collect treasures, and run wild. We would go to the camp store and buy Hostess fruit pies with our allowance. Then, at the end of the day, we would gather back at the camp site for dinner and a camp fire. The whole thing just gives me warm fuzzies to think about it.

So when we started a family of our own, camping was a must-do. However, the first few times we went, I realized that my parents had to do a lot of work to create this wonderful childhood camping experience. Camping trips didn't just happen. They were created. One of those “I'd like to still be a kid” moments.

I knew that if I didn’t do something to make camping prep easier, my love for this pastime was going to quickly fad from warm fuzzies to complete indifference. And I really didn’t want that to happen.

I went into organizer mode. I gathered all the things that we usually use for camping and started making my “Harisis Family Camping Checklist.” Click here to get "THE Checklist." After I assembled all my supplies and added them to the checklist, I loaded everything into plastic bins. Our supplies filled about a bin and a half. Then I cleared a space in my garage to store all of our camping stuff in one spot. Camping prep is now a breeze. I peruse my check list before each trip to see if I need to replace any supplies (paper towels, wipes, dish soap, plastic bags, etc.) and make sure everything else is in the bin. Then I load the bin into the car with all the other supplies and away we go.

Another added benefit to the Camping Checklist is that I can share it with families who are camping with us. We can compare notes and see who is bringing what. That way, we don’t bring duplicates. Very handy.

Packing the car used to take me an entire day. Now it takes about an hour and a half. This is one example of how a little organization can save you some time and tons of effort, making a favorite family pastime (and adulthood) still warm and fuzzy.

Interested in getting organized? Contact me, Robin Harisis! I would love to help you!